Denby is a cultural practitioner, educator, and artist who lives in upcountry Maui with her two children. Born and raised on Oʻahu, Denby graduated from Punahou School and earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington, as well as a Master’s degree in Education at Heritage College, Washington. Denby’s career path interweaves arts and environment in Hawaiʻi. She has held positions at Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center, Hawaiʻi Nature Center, Maui Coastal Land Trust, and educating disabled youth. Denby rejoined Hawai’i Land Trust in 2019 to continue the fulfilling work of spending time outdoors with children. Denby is a well-known artist and Hawaiian kapa maker. Her recent works include a collection of watercolors, mixed media paintings, and kapa, which capture the light, shadow, and rhythm of Hawaiʻi’s plants. 

Denby’s artwork reveals her awareness of the sensitive environment in which she lives.  Her family history in Hawaiʻi dates back many generations. While she has enjoyed a lifetime of exposure to the renowned Hawaiian landscapes of her mother, Betty Hay Freeland, Denby has developed a unique style all her own.